What happens when cystitis worsens?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on June 06, 2025
00:00
00:00

After suffering from cystitis, if it is not treated in time, the condition will worsen further, leading to obvious symptoms of frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination. Severe cases may be accompanied by significant hematuria and pyuria, and even chills and high fever. If still not treated promptly, bacteria are very likely to retrogradely enter the kidneys through the ureters, causing acute pyelonephritis and leading to symptoms of back pain in patients. Severe cases can affect kidney function and even be life-threatening. Additionally, if the inflammation persists, it can lead to contractions of the bladder, reduced bladder capacity, and subsequent significant lower abdominal pain. It may even cause reproductive system inflammations such as prostatitis and orchitis in male patients.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Chun Hua
Urology
46sec home-news-image

What should I do about cystitis?

After discovering cystitis, do not be too stressed mentally, actively treat it, drink more water, and orally take sodium bicarbonate to alkalinize the urine. This can reduce irritation to the urinary tract. Additionally, medicines like atropine and diazepam can be used, and appropriate heat application to the bladder area, as well as hot water sitz baths, can alleviate bladder spasms. Antibiotics such as cephalosporins and quinolones can be appropriately used. For simple cystitis, you can choose antibiotics that are more sensitive, using a three-day treatment method, which is similar to a seven-day course, with fewer side effects and lower costs. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
41sec home-news-image

Is cystoscopy necessary for cystitis?

Patients with cystitis do not need to undergo cystoscopy. The main examinations for patients with cystitis include routine urine tests, bacteriological examination of urine, routine blood tests, kidney function tests, ultrasonography of the urinary system, and X-rays including abdominal plain films. Diagnostically, it mainly depends on the patient's clinical manifestations and a comprehensive judgment based on the results of these auxiliary examinations. Patients with cystitis generally experience symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, and discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and perineal area.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
37sec home-news-image

How is cystitis diagnosed?

Chronic cystitis can be diagnosed through various methods. Firstly, urinary tract imaging can demonstrate reduced bladder capacity, rough or irregular bladder margins. Secondly, an ultrasound can show a reduction in bladder cavity and general thickening of the bladder wall. Additionally, a CT scan can reveal widespread irregular thickening of the bladder wall and a reduction in bladder size, with the inner and outer surfaces appearing rough. These diagnostic methods can all be used to check for cystitis, though specific situations should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jian
Urology
1min 10sec home-news-image

How to treat cystitis

Bladder infections are most commonly seen in female patients, as the female urethra is very close to the vagina and anus, making it easy for bacteria to cause infection. Symptoms of bladder infection generally include frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, painful urination, discomfort in the bladder area and perineum, a burning sensation during urination, and sometimes visible blood in the urine at the end of urinating. Diagnosis of bladder infection mainly involves a routine urine test, where a large number of white blood cells can be seen in the urine. In terms of treatment, antibiotics are primarily used, with quinolones such as levofloxacin being common choices, administered over three days. Another option is cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefixime, which is also used for three days. It is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the perineal area. Generally, symptoms should improve significantly within about three days, and it is advisable to recheck the routine urine test after one week.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
39sec home-news-image

Causes of glandular cystitis

The causes of glandular cystitis are still not very clear, and it may be related to chronic inflammation in the bladder, stones, obstruction in the bladder, neurogenic bladder, bladder eversion, and other diseases. Glandular cystitis is considered a transformative lesion of the bladder mucosal tissue. The origins of the bladder mucosal epithelium mainly include embryonic origin, degeneration, and epithelial transformation theories. The main clinical symptoms are frequent urination, urinary urgency, painful urination, macroscopic hematuria, and discomfort of heaviness in the lower abdomen.